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Blue Origin investigates rocket explosion as public is warned about possible wreckage washing ashore

  • By MARCIA DUNN - AP Aerospace Writer
  • Updated

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin is assessing damage to its Florida launch pad after a rocket exploded during a test firing. The company fueled the massive New Glenn rocket Thursday night, hoping to briefly ignite the engines ahead of a satellite launch next week. But the 321-foot rocket blew up, taking part of the pad with it. Emergency officials are warning the public to avoid any wreckage that might wash ashore and instead call 911. New Glenn is the rocket that Blue Origin plans to use to launch landers to the moon for NASA.

Blue Origin rocket explodes on the launch pad during an engine-firing test
National News
AP Wire

Blue Origin rocket explodes on the launch pad during an engine-firing test

  • By MARCIA DUNN - AP Aerospace Writer
  • Updated

A rocket belonging to Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin has exploded during a test at the launch pad. Thursday night's blast was felt in nearby Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach, Florida, and briefly turned the sky orange. Blue Origin said its New Glenn rocket exploded during an engine-firing test and everyone is safe. Space Force officials said emergency responders remained on the scene more than an hour later. New Glenn is the rocket that Bezos' company must use to launch landers to the moon for NASA. It made its debut more than a year ago, soaring three times.

National News
AP

Spiral galaxy's brilliant heart shines bright in a new picture from NASA's Webb telescope

  • By MARCIA DUNN - AP Aerospace Writer

A spiral galaxy's brilliant heart outshines everything within sight in a new picture from NASA's Webb Space Telescope. The image released this week depicts the Messier 77 galaxy 45 million light-years away. The galaxy's active nucleus is powered by a supermassive black hole that's 8 million times more massive than the sun. Surrounding gas is sucked into a tight orbit around the black hole, becoming so hot that it radiates in the extreme. Webb captured the stunning details. The world's largest and most powerful space telescope has been photographing the cosmos since launching in 2021.